Throw-down, fuhgetaboutit season finale party closes out the hit VH1 reality show's year with a bang

Staten Island's own female La Cosa Nostra celebrated their first successful season of their popular VH1 reality TV show "Mob Wives" with a season finale throw-down, fuhgetaboutit party last night in Manhattan, totally befitting this bejeweled, tough-talking Mafia Sisterhood.

Last night, the show's stars -- Karen Gravano, Drita D'avanzo, Carla Facciolo and Renee Graziano -- and hundreds of their friends, supporters and fans partied it up at the swank Pacha NYC in Manhattan.

The women held a private party in the club's VIP room where guests were greeted by specialty complimentary Mob Wives Vodka cocktails courtesy of Pearl Vodka and cupcakes by the famous CupcakeStop.

The show's season finale is scheduled to airtonightat 8.

The show follows the exploits of these four Island women, who were either married to or born into the mob, chronicling them as they struggle to start over while their husbands or fathers do prison time.

Mob Wives Season Finale PartyStaten Island's own female La Cosa Nostra celebrate their first successful season of their popular VH1 reality TV show "Mob Wives" with a season finale throw-down, fuhgetaboutit party at Pacha NYC in Manhattan.

The show has proven to be a hit -- no pun intended -- for VH1, with its premiere episode in April drawing 1.4 million viewers and garnering the No. 1, non-sports show on cable in its time slot with women ages 18 to 49 and ages 18 to 34 during its Sunday night, 8-9 p.m. time slot. Since its debut, it has averaged 1.3 million viewers per episode.

But the show has not been without controversy.

The borough's Italian-American leaders have decried it as derogatory to their heritage.

Everyone from local politicians to business leaders to the average Joes and Janes have complained that the show's Mafia references, cursing and orange spray tans put the Island in a negative light and glamorizes the wiseguy -- in this case wisegal -- lifestyle.

One of the loudest voices is Borough President James Molinaro, who is on record about his disdain for the program.

"This doesn't put Staten Island in a good light, whether you're Italian or not," said Molinaro, the son of Italian immigrants. "I don't see why they would want to wear it on their chests," he said of the braggadocio. "You know, 'My father was a bank robber and killed four people besides.' What does that do for you, for your family, for your heritage?"

But the show's stars disagree.

"Staten Island was here before 'Mob Wives' and so was all the crime ... so don't blame it on a TV show," said Renee Graziano during last night's party.

Carla Facciolo agreed.

"People are crazy, I don't feel like I am bashing anyone," she said last night. "I'm only talking about my life."

Drita D'avanzo said the show was "very personal."

"It's about family and it's difficult, I am a very private person and I've spoken about things I usually don't think about."

But Ms. D'avanzo says she continues to do the show because "it's an opportunity."

"Right now I have no job, so that's how I look at the show, like a job," she said. "I think that's one of the reasons why the show is so successful, because so many people can relate to us, so many single moms can relate to us."

"I'm not happy the way the show ended," said Ms. D'avanzo, referring to her fight with Karen Gravano. "But I have no animosity. I hope we can move forward."

The finale promises more big brawls between the women -- nothing new here -- as plans call for a showdown between Ms. Gravano and Ms. D'avanzo when Ms. D'avanzo learns the former is penning a tell-all book about her life being mobbed up.

The book may or may not touch upon secrets regarding Ms. D'avanzo's husband, Lee (who dated Ms. Gravano in the past). For her part, Ms. D'avanzo has requested her husband be left out of the book.

Karen Gravano said she wasn't happy about her fight with Drita at the end of the season. Drita is married to Karen's former boyfriend, Lee, who is now serving time in prison.

"Lee was a small part of the Mafia but a big part of my life," said Ms. Gravano. "I dated him for seven years."

About her fight with Drita, Ms. Gravano said, "I wanted to make a peace offering and rebuild our relationship, but Drita took it somewhere else."

Ms. Gravano said America has always had a fixation with the Mafia and her father. But now people are starting to recognize her.

She plans to work on a skin care line and start a foundation for children to teach them that crime doesn't pay.

And in case you thought the omerta would end tonight, guess again. VH1 has picked up the show for a second season with all four ladies scheduled to be part of Round Two -- or Season Two, whichever you prefer.